How To Dry Wet Weed After Harvest

Congratulations on an epic harvest! Now, how are you going to process all of that wet weed into dry weed ? There are countless ways to get your ganja ready, but I’m going to share with you some methods that will help you learn how to dry weed. The most sensible method for you depends on how much cannabis your drying.

Should I Big-Leaf?

Big leafing is the process of removing the large fan leaves. Some strains or covered in leaves and others have hardly any. You should use sensible judgment for your harvest. You can do it by hand, or if you have a large crop, you can buy or rent a machine designed for the task.

Humidity And Temperature

Ideal drying temperatures are between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit, while humidity levels should remain between 45%-55%. Depending on your climate, you may need to implement humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and fans or air conditioning to maintain optimal conditions. You need air circulating constantly, but make sure not to have air blowing directly on your drying weed /plants causing them to dry too fast. If your room is full of dense buds and a ton of moisture, then you have a high risk of your weed growing mold as it dries. If that’s the case, bring in those de-hums quick!

Dark Room

It’s best to dry your weed in a dark room. Light destroys terpenes, the molecules in your buds that give it its characteristic flavors. We want to keep the blueberry in our Blueberry Skunk!

How To Hang

This method is widely debated. Some growers like to cut the whole plant down at the base of the stalk and hang it upside down. While others like to breakdown the plant into smaller pieces, or “hangers”. To cut hangers, follow the structure of the stalk and cut about an inch below the branch so that it has a hook on it. Hangers are great, but it takes longer to get your entire crop up to dry. Certain strains are better for this than others. Some growers like to big leaf before drying, while others leave them. Either way, at some point your going to big leaf and break down the plant. It’s important to understand that if you’re hanging up lots of stalks and leaves with your buds, you’re going to have extra moisture evaporating into your drying room. Depending on your local climate, this may or may not be desirable. However you hang, it’s important not to dry your weed too fast as this creates a harsh smoke in the final product.

Colas And B-Buds

The fatty dense buds that grow at the top of branches are called “Colas” or “Tops” and the flowers from the lower inner branches are called “B-buds”. Colas are going to take longer to dry then your B-buds, and most growers separate the two in the drying room in some way or another. It’s best to just pop off the B-buds and dry them on a rack or screen agitating them every day or two until they’re dry and ready to cure.

Dry Weed Yet?!

When you harvest your crop you should get it drying as soon as possible and between 7-10 days, more or less, your weed should be dry. To test for readiness, bend the stems. If they bend with no sound, they need more time. Or If they pop when they bend, they’re ready. If they completely break, your weed may be too dry. Don’t worry though you can rehydrate it.

The Buck And Cure

Once your weed is dry you can begin the process of taking down your hanging plants and B-buds. “Buck” the buds off of the stalk into a sealed container. If your buds are too dry keep them with the stalk. Now your weed is dry, in a sealed container, and is curing with or without the stalk. Your cannabis is now dry and curing. The pros say this is where you can either make or break the quality of your crop. The slower the cure, the better the smoke, so don’t be impatient. Keep your buds in sealed glass jars, plastic bins, or bags. Everyday open the container for a few minutes, gently agitate the buds. and close it again until it is to your preferred dryness. Once done, it’s recommended to keep your flowers in dark glass containers in the dark to preserve the freshness and terpenes. Test your cannabis with a smoke, vaporizer, or edible and record your findings. You’ll be glad you did at your next harvest.